So.......does anyone like the Color Purple?- Page 2

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/25/07 at 11:23am

I enjoyed the show and own the OBCR. It isn't the perfect show. I really feel the African segment at the top of Act II could have been shortened. I love the music in the show and the title song brought me to tears at the theatre, especially the a capella version at curtain. I sat there remembering the musical "Purlie", which I loved.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/25/07 at 11:28am

I enjoyed the show, but mostly because I love the novel and film so much.

I enjoy the score quite a bit, though Gary Griffin should be tried for crimes against humanity for his horrid direction. Sketchy writing and structual problems aside, the show would have been a lot more moving if Griffin kept far away.

[theatahguy]

Posted: 4/25/07 at 11:39am

Love the book. Love the film. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATED the musical.

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/25/07 at 11:56am

I did a search but couldn't find any threads on the show in Chicago. I was wondering how the cast is.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 4/25/07 at 1:54pm

I went to THE COLOR PURPLE in December with mixed feelings because of the mixed reactions this show has generated on this message board. I was pleasantly surprised. I found it to be a well acted and well sung musical with a moving story. I feel that it was expertly staged and flowed smoothly for the entire show. I would recommend it to anyone who loves the theatre as much as I do. The Color Purple is an important piece of Americana. Oh, by the way I happen to be a white person who was able to empathize with the black experience as told in this show.

[seaweedjstubbs]

Posted: 4/25/07 at 5:48pm

I don't think we ever said that ONLY black people would be able to like the show. We were saying that black people may like the show more than others because it's a black show with black themes and all black cast. Another example would be THE WIZ. When it first opened on Broadway, it got mixed reviews from the critics and was on the verge of closing. When they ran a TV ad, however, advertising young black kids singing Ease on Down the Road, it encouraged other black people to go and see the show. It went on to win the Best Musical Tony and ran for over 1000 performances. Now, it's almost a sin in the young black community if you've never seen the show or the movie (however bad it may be). Not to say that white people OR OTHER ETHNICITIES could not enjoy it. The same can be said with many prodominently black plays and movies.

There - did that make my comments not seem as bad?

[catstagestud]

Posted: 4/25/07 at 6:21pm

Loved it; found it moving and with a beautiful score. There were some issues about the script and how some things were left out from both the book and film that could've been explained better but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Love the cast album, especially "What About Love?"

Cheers,

Christopher

[kyle.]

Posted: 4/25/07 at 7:31pm

Best part of the show.

End of Act 1.

Nettie: I'm ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE!!!!!

And WHAT is with the 45 minute African dance session at the top of Act 2? We got the point after the first 5 minutes!

MJL was approached with writing the score early on, with Audra in mind for Celie. Now that would have been a REAL musical version of the story of The Color Purple. Not the cartoon I saw onstage.

I went in wanting to love it. I found myself laughing through most of it.

The musical does NOT serve the material.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 4/25/07 at 10:47pm

Have to totally disagree about the "White" comment---

I am a white male, and I LOVE the "Color Purple" -have seen it around 10 times...

Favorite shows: "Ragtime" and "Caroline or Change"

Favorite Music- Reggae

Favorite Perfomer- Bob Marley

Favorite Playwright- August Wilson

Whatever moves me, I like--- the above does that.

Currently reading- "Dessa Rose"

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/25/07 at 11:19pm

Unfortunately I didn't like the show or the CD of the Color Purple. I played the CD a couple of times and gave it away. The only songs I really liked were "Miss Celie's Pants" and the finale.

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/25/07 at 11:21pm

I am glad LaChiusa didn't do the music. (If that's who MJL is) Based on "Wild Party" and "See What I Wanna See", for me, his style wouldn't fit the story. I have been familiar with Russell and Willis' work for years and was excited to see what they were going to come up with along with Bray. I think they did a wonderful job. Also, for me, I couldn't see Audra in this show. LaChanze was perfect for me. JMO

[giddyup]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 7:51am

I loved it, but a lot of us are afraid to say anything because we are made to feel that there is something wrong with us, that we aren't sophisticated enough to know when something is good or bad. Go ahead and like what you want.

[giddyup]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 7:52am

I loved it, but a lot of us are afraid to say anything because we are made to feel that there is something wrong with us, that we aren't sophisticated enough to know when something is good or bad. Go ahead and like what you want.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 7:57am

[DickonDefysGravity]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:38pm

Such a fabulous show. Faulty but fabulous.
LaChanze acted and sang circles over Fantasia.
The show as a whole though is always worth seeing.

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:52pm

It has its flaws but I loved it. I didn't really like the top of Act 2-- it dragged on.

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 1:58pm

I agree that the top of Act II dragged on a bit and reminded me and the people who saw it with me of "The Lion King" (The joke after we saw it in previews was that the cast of Lion King hopped a shuttle up to the Broadway Theatre to do the top of Act II for TCP and then left to go back and open Act II of Lion King at the New Amsterdam!) But I find that I really like listening to the Act II opener on the OBCR.

[Virgo]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 2:15pm

dickondefygravity, when did you see fantasia in TCP?

She received an absolutely smashing review from Michael Musto who is very honest and will slam anything that isn't up to par, especially an idol contestant with no prior theatre experience. He basically say's she's the best thing TCP has ever seen. As matter or fact, he calls it pure genius. The best line in his review was"

" Fantasia fully inhabits the role, serving up pathos, defiance, humor, and sass as the woman who feels God abandoned her but who learns to fully love herself. "

I like this part to:

"Putting one more mass-appeal TV star on Broadway could have easily amounted to just another cheesy bit of stunt casting, but in this case it's a piece of sheer genius that totally REBA MCENTIREs up the show. "


Full review here:

http://www.villagevoice.com/nyclife/0717,musto,76437,15.html
Updated On: 4/26/07 at 02:15 PM

[Starlet2]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 2:52pm

I went to the to see this last weekend without much expectations, seeing all the bad reviews, and I was very worried about seeing it with Fantasia, but I was so surprised when I actually enjoyed it!
Fantasia was really quite good, great even. And I found myself actually crying by the end of the show.
No, its not a perfect show but It is a great experience.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 10:58pm

Starlet,

All the bad reviews from where? Of the show, in general, or of Fantasia? --- the show as a whole got basically mixed reviews-- Fantasia, as far as what I have read, has gotten (well-deserved, in my opinion) raves ! She is great !!!

[GoSmileLaughCryClap]

Posted: 4/26/07 at 11:24pm

Loved the book.

Disliked the movie.

Mixed feelings about the musical.

[musicman_17082]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 12:04am

I'm white and personally prefer a powerful female black voice to any other voice any day of the week. I'm simply in love with the African American vocal instrument!

The first time I heard the CD I was not a fan. However, I look back and simply have NO IDEA why. Now it is truly one of my most incredible CD's I own. I listen to it and (perhaps it sounds cheesy) but it is so moving and inspirational. I love it.

I will be seeing the show for my first time in exactly two weeks and couldn't be more excited. I'll be in NYC for over a week and TCP is the thing I'm looking forward to most.

*goes and puts in Color Purple CD after talking about it so much* :)

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 1:00am

I saw the show last summer in NYC with the OBC and loved it. I have tickets for the show again in Chicago in June. Though it may not be a masterpiece, it is an enjoying and moving night at the theatre!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 1:05am

[kyle.]

Posted: 4/27/07 at 2:12am

HAHAHAHAHA

It never gets old!!!!

PS- The face of the woman on the right, was my face during the whole show Updated On: 4/27/07 at 02:12 AM